(Photo: Carlo Allegri/Reuters)Pfizer is making its most aggressive move yet to capture a share of the booming obesity drug market, announcing Monday it will acquire biotech firm Metsera in a deal valued at up to $7.3 billion, including future milestone payments. The purchase gives Pfizer access to a pipeline of next-generation weight-loss therapies as competition in the space intensifies. Shares of Metsera surged more than 60% to $53.80 following the announcement, while Pfizer stock gained about 2%. The acquisition marks a strategic pivot after Pfizer scrapped its own obesity drug candidate, danuglipron, due to safety concerns, including potential drug-induced liver injury and elevated liver enzymes in earlier trials. The global obesity drug market is expected to reach $100 billion to $150 billion by the early 2030s, driven by surging demand for GLP-1 and next-generation therapies.